VINELAND — Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 includes closing all of the Vineland Developmental Center, which houses and supports women with developmental disabilities.

A total of 1,000 jobs could be affected.

The governor in his budget summary last year announced the state would shut down the developmental center’s west campus, on West Almond Road by June 2011 for a savings of approximately $160,000.

This year, the center’s east campus, located on East Landis Avenue, is on the chopping block.

Its closure is expected to save the state an estimated $1.5 million in the 2012 fiscal year, according to officials at the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS), which administers the center.

“Over the last several years, many more families prefer in-home services to support their relatives with developmental disabilities at home,” said Pam Ronan, public information officer for the NJDHS.

“Also, when families do need a residential program for their family member with a developmental disability, families choose group homes or supervised apartment programs.

“Over several decades now, DDD (NJDHS Division of Developmental Disabilities) has increased the numbers of community residential and other programs. These efforts have reduced the census in the seven state-operated developmental centers, which is now 2,648 people. Because of these preferences by families, DDD is working to re-balance resources and reconfigure the existing system of care.”

The complete shuttering of the Vineland Developmental Center will occur over a two-year period, starting July of this year and ending June 2013. NJDHS and Vineland staff starting now will proceed with some preliminary groundwork, preparing for the eventual closing, while the state Legislature continues to review and finalize the budget.

There are 388 women currently living at Vineland Developmental Center, including 39 who will be moving before the end of June from the west campus to the East Landis Avenue location.

The center was founded in 1888, and is the oldest of the seven developmental centers in the state. As of Dec. 1, 2010, the average resident age was 54.

According to Ronan, its closure furthers the state’s “Olmstead” efforts, following the 1999 Supreme Court ruling of Olmstead v. L.C., determining that the unjustified institutionalization of people with disabilities is a form of unlawful discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Creating community residential programs, such as group homes and supervised apartment programs, is a state and national effort to reduce the reliance on institutions for residential services,” said Ronan. “DHS, DDD and Vineland staff know that the closure of a developmental center is emotional for everyone who is involved. Many of the women have lived at the center for many years and many of the employees have worked at the center for many years.

“Meetings are being held at the center to answer questions and there will continue to be ongoing communication and support throughout the process.”

Sen. Jeff Van Drew, as well as assemblymen Matt Milam and Nelson Albano, released a statement Wednesday pledging to fight the proposed cutting of the Vineland Developmental Center.

Van Drew, a member of the Senate budget committee, stated he cannot accept a proposal that will “cause undue harm to our region while holding others harmless.“Shuttering this facility would have a devastating impact on out economy, leaving 1,000 employees without jobs and residents who need critical care with nowhere to turn.”Milam echoed the senator’s sentiment.

“This facility is home to our most vulnerable residents, many who require a level of care that can only be provided in the developmental center,” said Milam. “We cannot turn our backs on them — nor can we turn our backs on the approximately 1,000 employees who work with the residents each and every day.

“This is about having compassion for our neighbors, but it’s also about protecting the local economy.”